Millard Fillmore ceremony examines UB’s ‘literary’ legacy

By LAUREN NEWKIRK MAYNARD

Uncharacteristic for Buffalo in January, the sun broke through
the clouds in Forest Lawn Cemetery, shining down on a gathering of
citizens, UB staff and regional officials during the 48th public
commemoration of Millard Fillmore’s birthday—it would
have been his 213th—on Jan. 7.

Fillmore, the 13th president of the U.S., also served a key role
in establishing the young city of Buffalo and the University of
Buffalo.

Born in 1800 in Moravia, N.Y., Fillmore served in Congress and
as vice president under Zachary Taylor from 1849-50, then as
president from 1850-53. He also served as UB’s first
chancellor, from the university’s founding in 1846 until his
death in 1874.

Early in his career, Fillmore helped launch a thousand ships of
sorts here in Buffalo, establishing the local school system and
fire department, the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
(now called the Buffalo History Museum), the Buffalo Fine Arts
Academy (now the Albright-Knox Art Gallery), the local chapter of
the ASPCA and the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences, in addition
to serving as New York State comptroller and a member of the state
Assembly.

Nearly 200 years later, the UB Police Color Guard stood at
attention with U.S., state and UB flags as several speakers came
forward at Fillmore’s gravesite to pay their respects.

William Regan, director of special events at UB, gave opening
remarks, followed by an invocation by The Rev. Margret
O’Neall of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo.

Col. Kevin Rogers of the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air
National Guard based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station placed a
wreath from the White House at Fillmore’s grave marker,
located high on a small hill within the peaceful cemetery.

Wreaths also placed were by Davis Pfalzgraf Jr., president of
the Buffalo Club; Holly Donaldson, chairman of the Forest Lawn
Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees; and Larry Gingrich,
associate dean for Millard Fillmore College at UB—a school
bearing Fillmore’s name that was established, like the rest
of the university, to give members of the community access to
educational opportunities.

Also in attendance were members of the Abigail Fillmore Chapter
of the Daughters of the American Revolution; students and teachers
from East Aurora’s Mandala School, a K-8 charter school
located down the street from Fillmore’s family home; and
current and former UB students, staff and friends.

Charles Zukoski, UB provost and executive vice president for
academic affairs, delivered the memorial address. His speech
examined Fillmore’s description of UB as a “literary
institution” during the university’s first commencement
ceremony back in 1847, when UB was a private medical school.

Zukoski quoted Fillmore as saying that UB was “destined to
shed literary and scientific blessings, not only on the youth of
our own prosperous city, but upon those of the surrounding country
and adjacent states.” By “literary,” Zukoski
explained, Fillmore referenced a broader meaning of the
word—that of “respecting learning or learned
men”—than what is known today. “It is easy to
imagine that Millard Fillmore would delight in the comprehensive
institution UB has become,” Zukoski said.

Having once said that UB would grow to become the “pride
and ornament of our city,” Fillmore, Zukoski added, surely
understood how “arts and sciences mingle together to form the
foundation of democracy.”

Zukoski’s address also touched on Fillmore’s complex
legacy as a leader, from his many good works and extensive civic
contributions throughout Western New York, to the controversial
Compromise of 1850 legislation that he passed soon after becoming
president. While the compromise admitted California to the union as
a free state and abolished the slave trade in the District of
Columbia, it also included the Fugitive Slave Act, which required
northerners to return escaped black men and women to slavery.

The ceremony closed with taps performed by MBA student West
Richter. At a reception afterward in the Forest Lawn chapel, cocoa
and coffee warmed fingers and toes as the crowd gathered in the
cozy space.

Zukoski greeted attendees by the fireplace and was enthusiastic
about the morning’s proceedings. “This is about pride;
it speaks to this city’s pride in so many things and to
Buffalo’s deep roots in national politics and its early
leadership in industry,” he said.

The Association for a Buffalo Presidential Center, a newly
chartered group advocating for the study and appreciation of
Western New York’s contributions to presidential and national
affairs, presented a small exhibit of Fillmore memorabilia at the
chapel. Presidents Fillmore, Cleveland, McKinley and Teddy
Roosevelt all have Buffalo connections.

Josie Morrissey, a 6th-grader at the Mandala School, said this
was her second year attending the event. “I didn’t know
much about Millard Fillmore at first, but we’ve been talking
about him in history class. It’s been fun,” she
said.

Uncharacteristic for Buffalo in January, the sun broke through
the clouds in Forest Lawn Cemetery, shining down on a gathering of
citizens, UB staff and regional officials during the 48th public
commemoration of Millard Fillmore’s birthday—it would
have been his 213th—on Jan. 7.